Media Station
Encyclopedia
, originally founded as , was a Japanese adult video (AV) production company. In early 2011, they were integrated with the AV company KM Produce
.
(then known as Samm) and Tadashi Yoyogi
's Athena Eizou
, one of Japan's pioneering AV companies. The studio's first video, , starring Emi Nakamura, was released in December 1981. The video, directed by pink film director Genji Nakamura, who would later go on to fame with an early gay pink film Beautiful Mystery, was one of earliest of the modern style adult videos. Soon afterward the studio also released one of the first S&M adult videos, . In 1982, starring Michiko Miura broke new ground in AV with its documentary style, including an interview with the shy actress, a format still being used for debut videos of featured actresses. The studio's success was assured with a series of popular videos in the following years. Among the early stars of the studio was Keiko Nakazawa
who made her AV debut for Cosmos Plan in December 1985 with the video . The studio added a new label, Bazooka, in August 1989.
In 1990, as its business expanded into other areas, the company changed its name to Media Station but continued to produce videos under the Cosmos Plan label.
In the later 1990s a number of future AV Idol
s made their debuts with the company, including Madoka Ozawa
in 1996, Bunko Kanazawa
and Sally Yoshino
in 1997, and Minori Aoi
in 1999. Kanazawa would go on to make more videos with the company than any other actress.
By at least 1997, Cosmos Plan and a number of the other older AV companies including Alice Japan
, Atlas21
, Max-A
and Big Morkal had gathered around Kuki Inc.
to pool resources and use the X CITY website for sales and video on-demand, together forming the largest porn conglomerate in Japan at that time. In late 2007, the company, with headquarters in Shibuya, Tokyo
, had capital of 20 million yen (about $200,000) and reported sales for the fiscal year 2005 of 1.5 billion yen (about $15 million). In earlier years sales figures had totalled 1.6 billion yen for fiscal year 2000 and 1.9 billion yen for 2002 and 2003.
Media Station was part of the large Japanese holding company CCC (Culture Convenience Club Co.) along with a number of other communications and entertainment companies including AV producers and marketers KM Produce
(KMP), Real Works
, Top Partners, and Top Marshall. Media Station was affiliated with AV manufacturers KMP
and Real Works
, and the Media Station website, home.uchu.co.jp, was operated by KMP. In mid-2010 Media Station was releasing about 10 videos per month under its labels Cosmos Plan (with codes beginning with MDS) and Bazooka (with codes beginning MDB).
However, by April 2011, the Media Station website announced that Cosmos Plan had been integrated into the KMP website and from February 2011, the Cosmos and Bazooka labels were incorporated into KMP.
s have performed in Media Station videos:
In 2004 the company took another award, the Best AV Title, at the 5th Takeshi Kitano Awards in 2004 for their video Faithful Pooch Saseko.
KM Produce
is a Japanese adult video company located in Shibuya, Tokyo.-Company information:KM Produce became an independent AV production company under that name using the "Million" label for its videos in April 2002 in competition with other major AV companies such as Soft On Demand and Moodyz...
.
Company information
The company was founded under the name Cosmos Plan on October 13, 1981 making it, along with h.m.pH.m.p. (Japan)
h.m.p. is a Japanese company which is involved in adult entertainment including the production and sales of adult videos and the marketing of adult toys and sex aids.-Company information:...
(then known as Samm) and Tadashi Yoyogi
Tadashi Yoyogi
is a Japanese director of pink film and adult videos . He is known as the "Father of Japanese Adult Video" and has been credited with establishing the model in his early work for many of adult videos produced since.-Life and career:...
's Athena Eizou
Athena Eizou
is an early pioneering Japanese adult video production company. They have offices in the Shibuya ward of Tokyo, Japan.-Company information:Athena Eizou was founded December 21, 1981 by pink film director Tadashi Yoyogi and Hikaru Kitoh...
, one of Japan's pioneering AV companies. The studio's first video, , starring Emi Nakamura, was released in December 1981. The video, directed by pink film director Genji Nakamura, who would later go on to fame with an early gay pink film Beautiful Mystery, was one of earliest of the modern style adult videos. Soon afterward the studio also released one of the first S&M adult videos, . In 1982, starring Michiko Miura broke new ground in AV with its documentary style, including an interview with the shy actress, a format still being used for debut videos of featured actresses. The studio's success was assured with a series of popular videos in the following years. Among the early stars of the studio was Keiko Nakazawa
Keiko Nakazawa
, born September 9, 1965, is an award-winning Japanese AV idol and pink film actress who gained popularity among AV viewers during the mid-1980s. She was described as "the most popular video queen in 1987".- Life and career :...
who made her AV debut for Cosmos Plan in December 1985 with the video . The studio added a new label, Bazooka, in August 1989.
In 1990, as its business expanded into other areas, the company changed its name to Media Station but continued to produce videos under the Cosmos Plan label.
In the later 1990s a number of future AV Idol
AV Idol
An AV idol is a Japanese idol who works in the pornographic business, often both as an actress as well as a model as the video performances have a wide range, from just the idol strolling around their house doing chores in bikinis to hardcore porn...
s made their debuts with the company, including Madoka Ozawa
Madoka Ozawa
is a Japanese AV idol and V-Cinema actress who has been described as "a very popular ... AV actress in the late 1990s" and "the number one AV idol of 1997".-Life and career:...
in 1996, Bunko Kanazawa
Bunko Kanazawa
is a prolific Japanese adult film actress, who has been called "one of the biggest AV idols in Japan."-Debut - Cosmos Plan:Bunko Kanazawa was born April 4, 1979 in Kanagawa prefecture). She reports that as a child she was good at mathematics and science, but horrible in Japanese and English...
and Sally Yoshino
Sally Yoshino
is a Japanese striptease dancer, model, and AV idol. She has also performed under the name .-Early life:Sally Yoshino was born in Tokyo on November 28, 1978. Her father was a member of a skate team, and Yoshino began figure skating at the age of three...
in 1997, and Minori Aoi
Minori Aoi
is a Japanese gravure and AV idol.-Debut and early AVs:Born in Tokyo on March 28, 1980, Minori Aoi was active in tennis during Junior High School and High School. She made her AV debut in the February 1999 release for the Media Station Cosmos Plan label, Pure Heart . Her first video was a difficult...
in 1999. Kanazawa would go on to make more videos with the company than any other actress.
By at least 1997, Cosmos Plan and a number of the other older AV companies including Alice Japan
Alice Japan
was established on April 4, 1986 as the adult video label for Japan Home Video .-Company information:The early AVs produced by JHV went under the Penguin label, the first title being the 30 minute long softcore Asobinasareya, Tadakurue starring Hidemi Nakajima released May 21, 1984 with...
, Atlas21
Atlas21
, formerly known as VIP, is a Japanese adult video company with headquarters in Tokyo, Japan.-VIP:The AV company was founded in June 1981 and issued its first video, titled , in December of that same year making it one of the first adult video companies to be established in Japan. The studio...
, Max-A
Max-A
is a Japanese adult video studio which is especially known for videos made under its Samansa and Calen labels which produced a number of innovative and quality AVs in the late 1990s and early 2000s.-Company information:...
and Big Morkal had gathered around Kuki Inc.
Kuki Inc.
is a Japanese adult video company which has its headquarters in Ebisu Minami in the Shibuya ward of Tokyo. The company is involved in the production and distribution of videos, satellite and cable TV, and a large internet site, X CITY.-Company history:...
to pool resources and use the X CITY website for sales and video on-demand, together forming the largest porn conglomerate in Japan at that time. In late 2007, the company, with headquarters in Shibuya, Tokyo
Shibuya, Tokyo
is one of the 23 special wards of Tokyo, Japan. As of 2008, it has an estimated population of 208,371 and a population density of 13,540 persons per km². The total area is 15.11 km²....
, had capital of 20 million yen (about $200,000) and reported sales for the fiscal year 2005 of 1.5 billion yen (about $15 million). In earlier years sales figures had totalled 1.6 billion yen for fiscal year 2000 and 1.9 billion yen for 2002 and 2003.
Media Station was part of the large Japanese holding company CCC (Culture Convenience Club Co.) along with a number of other communications and entertainment companies including AV producers and marketers KM Produce
KM Produce
is a Japanese adult video company located in Shibuya, Tokyo.-Company information:KM Produce became an independent AV production company under that name using the "Million" label for its videos in April 2002 in competition with other major AV companies such as Soft On Demand and Moodyz...
(KMP), Real Works
Real Works
was a Japanese company located in Tokyo that was involved in the planning and production of adult videos . They were integrated with the AV company KM Produce in early 2011.-Company information:...
, Top Partners, and Top Marshall. Media Station was affiliated with AV manufacturers KMP
KM Produce
is a Japanese adult video company located in Shibuya, Tokyo.-Company information:KM Produce became an independent AV production company under that name using the "Million" label for its videos in April 2002 in competition with other major AV companies such as Soft On Demand and Moodyz...
and Real Works
Real Works
was a Japanese company located in Tokyo that was involved in the planning and production of adult videos . They were integrated with the AV company KM Produce in early 2011.-Company information:...
, and the Media Station website, home.uchu.co.jp, was operated by KMP. In mid-2010 Media Station was releasing about 10 videos per month under its labels Cosmos Plan (with codes beginning with MDS) and Bazooka (with codes beginning MDB).
However, by April 2011, the Media Station website announced that Cosmos Plan had been integrated into the KMP website and from February 2011, the Cosmos and Bazooka labels were incorporated into KMP.
Labels
In addition to the Cosmos Plan label, the company has also issued videos under the following label names:- Bazooka
- Bijin
- Exert
- Pix
- Raiden
- Stylish
Actresses
A number of prominent AV IdolAV Idol
An AV idol is a Japanese idol who works in the pornographic business, often both as an actress as well as a model as the video performances have a wide range, from just the idol strolling around their house doing chores in bikinis to hardcore porn...
s have performed in Media Station videos:
- Hotaru AkaneHotaru Akaneaka is an award-winning Japanese model and AV idol. She is active in many media formats in Japan including a role in a mainstream theatrical film, and is a popular blogger. Her adeptness at female ejaculation has earned Akane the title, "Shiofuki Queen". She retired from AV work in 2008.-Early...
- Kokoro AmanoKokoro Amano, is an AV Idol who starred in pornographic movies between 2001 and 2004 . She worked mainly for Soft On Demand and Moodyz.-Life and career:Kokoro was born 30 August 1982 in the city of Miyako, Iwate Prefecture, Japan. She was seeking employment at the time that she was recruited for work in the AV...
- Minori AoiMinori Aoiis a Japanese gravure and AV idol.-Debut and early AVs:Born in Tokyo on March 28, 1980, Minori Aoi was active in tennis during Junior High School and High School. She made her AV debut in the February 1999 release for the Media Station Cosmos Plan label, Pure Heart . Her first video was a difficult...
- Ran AsakawaRan Asakawais a famous and extremely prolific Japanese model and AV idol who made her debut in the adult entertainment field in 2001.-Life and career:Ran Asakawa was born in Kanagawa Prefecture, Japan on 4 September 1980. Her first sexual encounter happened when she was 19 and was with a businessman...
- Kyoko AyanaKyoko Ayana, born April 15, 1981 in Japan's Kanagawa Prefecture, is a Japanese AV Idol who debuted in 2001. According to Peter Payne, founder of the Japanese popular culture site, J-List, Ayana had "claimed Japan's top big breast idol spot."-Life and career:...
- Ami AyukawaAmi Ayukawais a Japanese AV Idol who worked for both "pro" studios such as Alice Japan and h.m.p., and also for independent companies like Moodyz and Wanz Factory.-Life and career:...
- Hitomi HayasakaHitomi Hayasakais a Japanese model, actress and former adult video performer.-Life and career:Hayasaka was born on June 28, 1982 in Kanagawa Prefecture, Japan...
- Yumika HayashiYumika Hayashiwas a Japanese AV idol and pink film actress. She earned the title of "Japan's Original Adult Video Queen" during a 16-year career in which she starred in nearly 200 AVs and appeared in over 180 films...
- HonokaHonokais an award-winning Japanese adult video actress and popular TV personality and actress. She retired from the AV industry in 2008.-Life and career:...
- Milk IchigoMilk Ichigo, also often billed as Miruku Ichigo, is an award-winning Japanese adult video actress who has had an exceptionally long career.-Life and career:...
- Bunko KanazawaBunko Kanazawais a prolific Japanese adult film actress, who has been called "one of the biggest AV idols in Japan."-Debut - Cosmos Plan:Bunko Kanazawa was born April 4, 1979 in Kanagawa prefecture). She reports that as a child she was good at mathematics and science, but horrible in Japanese and English...
- Yuri KomuroYuri Komurois a Japanese AV idol, actress, and author. She was one of the top actresses in the AV field during the late 1990s.-Early life and AV career:Yuri Komuro was born in Japan's Kanagawa Prefecture on July 28, 1976,...
- Meguru KosakaMeguru Kosakais a popular and prolific Japanese AV idol known for her large G70-cup breasts. She is a recent addition to a long line of "Big-Bust" models in Japanese adult videos often traced back to 1980's idol Kimiko Matsuzaka.-Life and career:...
- Ai KurosawaAi Kurosawais an award-winning Japanese model and AV idol. She made her debut in the adult entertainment field in 2001, and after appearing in dozens of AVs , she retired in 2006 but made a comeback in 2007.-Early life:...
- Kaede MatsushimaKaede Matsushimais a Japanese model, actress and adult video performer who has had a long career as a top AV Idol. She was described as a "Japanese superstar" at Allmovie.-Life and career:...
- Aika MiuraAika Miurais a popular and award-winning Japanese AV idol who made a clear mark on the AV industry. In a remarkably long and prolific career for an AV actress, she released an average of one film a month over a seven year period—excepting 1998—before she retired in 2002....
- Haruki MizunoHaruki Mizunois a popular Japanese AV, gravure idol, and mainstream media celebrity.-Life and career:Mizuno was born in Tokyo on July 21, 1979. She dropped out of high school, and thinks that if she had not become an AV star, she would be working at soapland....
- Nozomi MomoiNozomi Momoiwas a popular and prolific Japanese AV idol, known for her "baby face that topped off a huge set of boobs" She appeared in over 100 movies, appearing in up to ten releases per month. In an incident that shocked the nation, she was murdered at the age of 24.-Early life:Nozomi Momoi was born in Tokyo...
- Keiko NakazawaKeiko Nakazawa, born September 9, 1965, is an award-winning Japanese AV idol and pink film actress who gained popularity among AV viewers during the mid-1980s. She was described as "the most popular video queen in 1987".- Life and career :...
- Alice Ogura
- Nao OikawaNao Oikawaborn April 21, 1981 in Hiroshima, Japan is a Japanese actress, TV Personality and was also a former AV idol who was very popular in early 2000s.- Life and career :...
- Madoka OzawaMadoka Ozawais a Japanese AV idol and V-Cinema actress who has been described as "a very popular ... AV actress in the late 1990s" and "the number one AV idol of 1997".-Life and career:...
- Sakura SakuradaSakura Sakuradais a Japanese actress, model and adult video star who has also used the name for still photo shoots. Her long and prolific career and international recognition mark her as an AV Idol.-Early career - "Uncensored Movies":...
- Miki SawaguchiMiki Sawaguchi, born September 1, 1975 in Yokohama, Japan) is one of Japan's best known adult video performers. On television she has appeared as a regular cast member on two shows and made several guest appearances on other shows...
- Asami SugiuraAsami Sugiura, who has also performed under the name is an award-winning Japanese model, actress and former AV Idol.-Life and career:Asami was born in Tokyo, Japan on September 19, 1985. At age 19, she appeared in the theatrical film , directed by Naoyuki Tomomatsu and released March 12, 2005 by TMC...
- Riko TachibanaRiko Tachibanais a popular and award-winning Japanese adult video idol . Taller than average, Tachibana debuted in 2003 and starred in many adult videos which emphasized her height. An extremely prolific actress, Tachibana had performed in over 200 AVs when she was awarded for Most Appearances at Japan's Adult...
- Akira WataseAkira Watasewas a popular and prolific Japanese AV idol who retired from the adult video industry in 2005.-Life and career:Akira Watase was born July 2, 1980 in Tokyo, Japan.). Her AV debut was in the May 2000 Media Station Cosmos Plan release, Venus....
- Manami YoshiiManami Yoshiiis a well-known Japanese adult film actress.-Life and career:Yoshii's first AV was the November 2000 release, Growing Up Journal. Water Fruit was Yoshii's second adult video. Like her first release, it was made for the KUKI studio...
- Sally YoshinoSally Yoshinois a Japanese striptease dancer, model, and AV idol. She has also performed under the name .-Early life:Sally Yoshino was born in Tokyo on November 28, 1978. Her father was a member of a skate team, and Yoshino began figure skating at the age of three...
- Maiko YūkiMaiko Yukiis a Japanese AV idol, actress, and stripper. One of the top AV idols in the mid-1990s, she was named the "AV Girl of the Year" in 1998. In 2004 Yūki was the star performer in the first Japanese strip show to perform in the People's Republic of China.-Early life:...
Series
Media Station series include:- Angel
- Fallen Angel X (堕天使Ｘ)
- Love Letter (ラブレター)
- Nurse Club (ナース倶楽部)
- Obscene MAX (猥褻ＭＡＸ)
- Princess Butt (尻姫)
- The Goddess of Soapland (ソープの女神さま)
- Venus Style
- Wet Diary (おしめり手帖)
Awards
Media Station was one of the companies associated with Kuki and the X City website which participated in the X City Adult Video Grand Prix Awards. At the 2001 X City Grand Prix Awards, the studio took the Best Video Title Award for Small Girls' Fuck (starring Sayaka Tsutsumi) on their Bazooka label. At the 2002 awards, the Bazooka label again won the Best Video Title Award for their popular Fallen Angel X series.In 2004 the company took another award, the Best AV Title, at the 5th Takeshi Kitano Awards in 2004 for their video Faithful Pooch Saseko.